Welcome to the Pirates Prospects video rundown, where we pull some of the top videos of the Pittsburgh Pirates across the internet.
Player Spotlights
Matt Fraizer
Tim Williams provided a great update on the breakout star of the Pirates system last year, Matt Fraizer, as the young outfielder aims to top the 20/20 plateau this season.
The former Arizona Wildcat and third round pick finished five stolen bases shy of that mark after splitting 2021 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers and Altoona Curve.
Here’s a look at a series Fraizer played last year with Altoona, facing off against the Bowie Baysox to close out the season. It was an up and down series for Fraizer, who finished with 10 hits in 21 at-bats (.476), along with three doubles, two runs scored and a home run. He also struck out 10 times in the 21 at-bats while walking just twice.
Eddy Yean
I featured Eddy Yean this week, and here’s one more video. Yean was acquired in the Josh Bell trade and had a very up and down season last year with Bradenton, with his numbers generally not ideal.
He is still 20-years-old, and does have an appearance like this under his belt, so there is still hope should he re-find his control. Against the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Florida Marlins Low-A team, Yean came out of the bullpen and pitched six-innings of one-hit baseball. He allowed two unearned runs (it was a double-header so from the eighth inning on they played with the ghost-runner starting at second), but also struck out nine without walking a batter.
Videos of the Day
Oneil Cruz
The next video is brought to you by Justice delos Santos, the new beat writer on MLB.com and features a little batting practice of Oneil Cruz.
Oneil Cruz getting in some hacks pic.twitter.com/tV61uUvZDF
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) March 15, 2022
Sounds like an explosion going off when he connects, doesn’t it? Cruz is going to be interesting to watch during the spring as the MLB looks to discourage service time manipulation and he could a guy that is directly impacted by it.
Daniel Vogelbach
It didn’t take long for Daniel Vogelbach to be heard in Bradenton, as he hits a couple of bombs in this clips taken by Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.
New Pirate Daniel Vogelbach with a couple bombs pic.twitter.com/8nc1uishjK
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) March 15, 2022
Vogelbach was signed Tuesday morning and headed straight in to get started. He gives the Pirates another power threat from the left-side that will benefit from the designated hitter being introduced to the National League.
It was just 2019 that Vogelbach hit 30-home runs and was named to the All-Star game when he was on the Seattle Mariners.
Mitch Keller vs Ke’Bryan Hayes
Across social media, Mitch Keller did a pretty good job of generating quite the buzz for himself this offseason. It wasn’t anything he said, more so he let his actions do the talking.
Keller had some of his bullpen sessions posted across the web, with him hitting triple digits on his fastball and showing increased spin on his breaking pitches.
Taking the next step in the early parts of spring, Keller was matched up against Ke’Bryan Hayes in live batting practice, with the 25-year-old from Iowa getting the better of his teammate.
Mitch Keller v. Ke’Bryan Hayes. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night. pic.twitter.com/XbYhBJym9i
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) March 15, 2022
Keller is able to strikeout Hayes in three pitches, getting the third baseman chasing a fastball up high for strike three.
Fans have been waiting for Keller to finally breakout after being one of the best prospects in baseball just a few years ago, if his offseason and early spring work is any indication, if he is going to, 2022 may be the year finally.
